The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-24
DUE WEST At WASHINGTON.
THE GRADUATES OF BRsKINE COLLEGE
TAKE A HIGH STAND AT THE
NATIONS CAPITAL.
Hon. j. AliheuS johnson. Hon. j. j.
Darlington. and Dr.. A. L. Miller
Reflect Credit OH their Alma Ma.
ter.

Hon. j. AltheuS johnson. HOn. >. y.
Darlington. and Dr.. A. L. Miller
Reflect Credit OH their Alma Ma
ter.
Speech of Mr.. Johnson at the Recent Com
mencement in Erskine College, Deliv-
cred Before the Alumni Association on
its Anniversary Celebration.
The graduates Of Erskinc College ndorn ev-
cry profession and every pursuit In life. They
may be found in every city, town and hamlet
in all this country, and wherever found they
are living useful lives and In their character
and work give the best evidence OF the value
| of q higher education, and OF the thorough
ness with which Erskne College has done
and Is doing It's whole duty to the young men
whose training has been entrusted TO its care.
Established away back In the midst OF for
mer generation alta time when the policy OF
denomnational Colleges, it has continuously
grown in strength and In usefulness. lis cur
rculum Is most excellent, It's standard are
high, and its instruction thorough and COM
plcte. It's founders, conscious of the correct
ness Of their motives, went to work to eStaD-
lish the institution which has been of itself an
inestimable blessing to the country, but did
fitness, es Which was afterwards adopted By the
different denominations in the State In 1899,
nearly fifty years ago, the college was organ.
ized, and for twelve or fifteen years stood
alone as denomlnational institution, grant.
| ing diplomas and certificates OF graduation
for ten or twelve years before tue State con
Sented TO grant a charter for the INSTITUTION
In 1850, partly through the efforts of Judge
McGowln, who was a member of the LegslG-
| ture at the time, the first charter to denomi'
national college was granted to Erskine Col
| lege. In the next ten years many other lnstl'
| Lao, ,ttNrv hn
great and good work In educating and Chris,
| tIaniZing the people every where
Not the least successful Of Erskine's sons
are j. Altheus Johnson. ]. J. Darlington and
A. E. Miller, now citizens OF the city OF Wash
| ingion, and each and oil OF them occupy high
and responsible positions before the public
and In the discharge Of their respective duties
reflect credit upon the home OF their nativity
and the College in which they received their
at the last commencement in compliance
with the request Of his fellow. graduates Mr.
johnson delivered the following address,
which was received by the audience with the
greatest favor, and among the people tnere
has been expressed the desire that we might
reproduce the speech In these columns. In
singing out Mr.. Johnson's speech for these
columns, we know that other orators OF merit
will excuse US. Mr.. Johnson Is an Abberille
county man, whom we are always pleased TO
honor. His speech was AS follows:
lr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen:
shadow. have come and gone since went out
from this community; but during that time
deep down In my heart has been a recess sa:
cred from Intrusion (; and when have wanted
TO look upon friends dwelling together In
unity; upon the beautiful fruits produced by
the union Of letters and morals upon God
| fearing people passing to and FRO with CHAR
ity for all and malice for none" have drawn
aside the veil from that recess, and, in the
fair Southern country, have beheld the love.
ly town Of Due West; and, pondering anew
the lessons here taught, have received fresh
inspiration from the scene. and have returned
| with renewed courage to the duties Of the
hour.
Mr. President and Gentlemen Of The Ettphen'tan
IRnoWy Know the glamour with which oratory is
| invested In the minds OF young men. Your
| pulses will thrill at the very mention of the
name OF distinguished orator. You read
with admiration the magnificent outbursts
OF coquence that are sometimes made in the
| legislative halls of tie nation at Washington
and, cntranced by the power OF the orator,
you yedrn for the ability to WELD the same
magic influence. Let me assure you, how
| ever, that the man of power In the halls OF
! Congress Is not necessarily the man who has
brlllinncy of wit, or pathos OF oratory, or
grandeur Of speech. If he has these, he may
create sensation for the hour; but unless he
has a personal character Which is uninpcnch.
ube.-a character which Is q guaranty that
the man Is speaking from The convict ions ol
an honest h"art-his effort is bereft OF its pow
er to persuade The weight Of high person,
nj character Is worth far more in persuading
men than any flight Of rhetoric, or gift o
tongue. will mention an instance In Illus
tration Of what I say. We may not agree
with him In his views on the tariff; editors
OF newspapers which claim to be eXponents
Of Jeffersnninn Democracy may essay to read
him out of the party; persons @ who have feit
his hand In the defeat of some scheme which
was the pet Of "the lobby" may charge that
Republican influence In gerrymandering the
state retains him in his present place; his
colleagues may sometimes criticlse and con-
demn; but there is not today In the Amerl,
can Congress n man who wields an Influence
| In national matters greater than that welded
by Sam'l ]. Randall, ,ofPennSylvania. A man
OF few words, his great power is due more
to his high personal character-his sterling
integrity of purpose-than to any other quail,
| ity, for whatever else may be imputed to him.
no one will charge that he would do an un,
clean or corrupt thing. or thut he Is actnated
by impure motives. Living In a manner
modest and unpretentious, as lie has always
lived, he Is to-day poorer man than when
he entered the public service twenty-five
years ago. know no stronger proof Of the
absolute Integrity OF the man.
Young gentlemen, If you want the power
OF oratory, cultivate IT. It Is n good thing To
have, anu in many walks Of life well-nigh In
dispensabe Whatever you want that Is
strive to attain IL; but be sure that you have
underlying all your attainments the honesty
that is unassuilable-the integrity that Is un-
|
enduring foundations.
And now, Mr.. President and Gentlemen o
! the Society, in view Of what have just said
as to the Importance of high personal char,
acter. / wish to congratulate you on the good
Providence which sends you for the rudi
mentS of your education to Bue West, TO Ers-
kline College, and to the Euphcmian Literary
Society.
Donot understand from this last expression
| that mean to institute comparison be
tween the merits OF this Society and the one
across the campus. Such Is not my inten
tion. assume that the advantages of the
| two are equal and that each Is laboring to nc
complish the full measure OF its usefulness
IT. therefore, / mention the name OF this so
ciety In terms of special admiration. 1t Is be
cause of the peculiar relation that exists be
tween 1t and me, and the feeling OF gratitude
have for benefits received. Fidelity TO the
Society of which l was 81 member certainly
does not involve a disparagement of tho
merits, or detraction from the good name
OF her rival. Indeed, would not be speak
ing worthy of the Society with which 1 claim
kinship tonight did not accord to her rival
and co-laborer the full need of her just hon
ors. PhilOmathea, the worthy rival and gen
eroua compeer OF Euphema, may the two
ever flourish in peace and harmony, and In
crease In usefulness as the years roll on!
Mr.. President, Due West has many quail
ties which specially beft 1t for being an edu
cational fountain. Sequestered, in n manner
from tho populOus and busy marts Of trade
IL has not the distractions OF business, tho
heterogeneous and shifting population. the
manifold avenues to temptation, which ex
ist in the larger cities and commercial cen
tres OF the country. Settled by Il people
noted for their picty. people whose belle
in personal God could not be shaken and
whose faith was that upon which the Chris
tian builds his hopes, 1t has always resisted
the inroads OF lnfidelity and skepticsm
which are so rampant throughout the cOun,
try, and which are proclaimed in some places
I,pi rl, hrnn nf ia